CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF THE BLUE THUMB WATER QUALITY EDUCATION PROGRAM

The Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society congratulates the Blue Thumb Water Quality Education Program on its 30 Year Anniversary!  Blue Thumb, a program of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission and local conservation districts, has a mission of “Stream Protection Through Education.”  It supports citizen scientist volunteers who monitor streams, submit data, and help educate others about protecting Oklahoma’s streams and rivers. Blue Thumb started in Tulsa County in 1992 with the first volunteers completing their training and beginning their monitoring in 1993.  

There are currently over 75 active stream monitoring sites in the state.  Data collection includes biological data (fish and benthic macroinvertebrates), habitat, and water chemistry.  Information gained through the volunteers’ data helps Oklahoma with important stream assessments.  Blue Thumb volunteers range in age from middle school students to retirees.  Blue Thumb staff hold training sessions for new volunteers about six times a year.  If you would be interested in becoming a Blue Thumb volunteer or would like to learn more about the program go to www.bluethumbok.com. 

Cheryl Cheadle, one of Blue Thumb’s founders, was District Manager of the Tulsa County Conservation District when the program launched.  Today, Cheryl serves as the Blue Thumb Volunteer Coordinator on the Conservation Commission staff.  Cheryl recently provided her oral history for the Oklahoma Conservation Heritage Oral History Collection which is archived with the Oklahoma State University Library.  You can listen to Cheryl’s oral history at https://library.okstate.edu/oralhistory/digital/ and learn more about how the Blue Thumb Program got its start.

Oklahoma’s Blue Thumb Program has been a national leader in volunteer water quality monitoring.  The Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society congratulates the Conservation Commission, the Blue Thumb staff, and its many volunteers, for 30 years of excellence!